Mr. David Adamsasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what funds have been made available within recent years for the study of social and economic conditions in the West Indies and especially of the needs and social customs of the natives; and whether he has considered the extent to which the repeated disturbances in Jamaica and other parts of the Empire have been due to our lack of knowledge of these essential factors?
Mr. M. MacDonald:The study of the social and economic conditions of each Colony is a normal function of the local Administrations and is dealt with in the reports on the social and economic progress of the various Dependencies which are published annually. In addition, special inquiries have been undertaken from time to time. In these circumstances it will, I think, be evident that a figure such as the hon. Member asks for could not be supplied.
As regards the causes of the recent disturbances in Jamaica and elsewhere, I 1658W am not yet in a position to add anything to the previous answers which I have given on the subject.,